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Hydrochloric Acid Storage — Tank, Resin & System Selection

Storing Hydrochloric (Muriatic) Acid? Start Here

Hydrochloric acid — muriatic acid, usually 37% — stores just fine in a chemical-grade polyethylene tank. The thing most people underestimate isn't the liquid, it's the fumes: HCl vapor drifts out of the vent and quietly corrodes anything metal nearby. Get the tank material right (easy) and the vent placement right (the part that bites people), and you're set.

Can you store it in a poly tank? Yes.

37% HCl is compatible with chemical-service polyethylene (1.9 SG). Use Viton (FKM) gaskets, PVC fittings, and Hastelloy bolts — ordinary metal hardware won't survive. The tank itself is the easy part.

The real issue: the fumes

HCl off-gasses an acidic mist that will corrode electrical panels, steel structure, and metal fasteners within several feet of the tank vent — even though the tank is fine. So:

  • Point the vent away from electrical cabinets, steel beams, and anything metal.
  • Add a vent scrubber (or carbon canister) for indoor or enclosed installs to neutralize the fumes.
  • Give it secondary containment — a basin sized to 110% of the tank.

Common questions

Why is metal near my acid tank rusting when the tank is fine?
HCl fumes from the vent. The liquid stays put in the poly tank, but the vapor corrodes nearby metal. Re-aim the vent and add a scrubber.
What gaskets and fittings?
Viton gaskets, PVC fittings, Hastelloy bolts. Skip EPDM and plain steel.
Can I store it next to my bleach or caustic?
No — keep acids away from bleach and bases, with separate containment.

Hydrochloric Acid storage tanks from OneSource

For hydrochloric acid storage, specify HDLPE rated to specific gravity 1.9. Verified, compatibility-matched options:

Confirm chemical compatibility and a ZIP freight quote with our team at 866-418-1777.

Sources & References

All compatibility ratings, hazard classifications, and chemical identifiers on this page are sourced from authoritative third-party publications. Verify against the original references before final specification.

  1. PubChem Compound Database — entry for Hydrochloric Acid (CID 313, CAS 7647-01-0). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Library of Medicine / NCBI. Canonical chemical-identity reference.
  2. Snyder Industries Chemical Resistance Recommendations — system-of-construction guidance for polyethylene chemical-storage tanks at industrial ASTM 1.9 SG design rating. SNY-3041 Chemical Resistance Chart. Snyder Industries, current edition. Resin + fitting + gasket + bolt MOC matrix.
  3. Equistar Technical Tip — Chemical Resistance of Polyethylene — LDPE / MDPE / HDPE rating chart by concentration and temperature, distributed by Enduraplas. enduraplas.com (PDF). Equistar polyethylene resin chemical-resistance data, distributed via Enduraplas.
  4. NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. nfpa.org. NFPA 704 'fire diamond' health/flammability/instability/special-hazard rating system (0–4 scale).
  5. UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), current revision. unece.org/transport/ghs. GHS pictograms, signal words, and H-statement codes referenced in this guide.
  6. ASTM D1998 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Upright Storage Tanks, current edition. astm.org. Cited as the design-specific-gravity standard (typically 1.9 SG) for industrial chemical-service polyethylene tanks.
  7. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards — occupational exposure limits, PPE, and IDLH data for Hydrochloric Acid. cdc.gov/niosh/npg. CDC / NIOSH chemical-specific occupational-safety reference.

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